My RV-7 now has about 50 hours on it so I'm assuming the engine break-in is complete (it consumes very little oil). However, it still has CHT's ~ 20-30 deg higher than I see on my RV-6 (13 years and 800+ hours). My RV-6 has dual UNISON LASAR ignition and my RV-7 has Slick impulse mag powering the bottom and LSE Plasma 3 powering the top. Other than that the power plants are identical (Lycoming O-360 on the 6 and Superior XP-360 on the 7). If anything, I would say the baffle installation is better on the 7. As far as I know the cowlings are identical. So I am at a complete loss to understand why the difference in temperature. The 6 maintains ~ 300 deg in cruise and perhaps 350-380 in climb, depending on OAT. The 7 is 370-400 in climb and 320-350 in cruise, but temps seem heavily dependent on whether I lean and how much. I've been running the FF higher just to keep the CHT's down. Also, the 7 CHT's are very balanced and moderate on the ground and the imbalance and significant increase occur after T/O. Generally #2 runs 30-40 deg hotter then #3 and 4, and #1 runs 10-20 degrees hotter than 3 and 4. 3 and 4 run the coolest and are generally within 10 degrees of each other. I have a small baffle dam in front of #1 cylinder and none in front of #2. I started with fairly significant dams in front of both, with my modifications making little difference. At this point the baffle systems of both airplanes are essentially identical.
Any thoughts or other input would be greatly appreciated.
Any thoughts or other input would be greatly appreciated.